In fact, nowadays the optimization of engines and powertrains towards cleaner, more fuel-efficient, and safer vehicles requires virtual tools for the simulation of the whole system well in advance of the design process. Moreover, management and diagnostic issues have key roles in the exploitation of the used technologies and solutions (e.g. double-stage turbocharging, and high- and low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation). Without forgetting the importance of experimental investigations, mathematical models are very useful tools to improve both the performance and the behaviour of engines and powertrains, with applications ranging from optimization of the system layout to definition and testing of control strategies. Starting from a brief overview of actual mathematical tools for simulation of the transient operation of diesel engines, several considerations are reported on the modelling criteria and approaches with reference to fast zero-dimensional mean-value models of engines and powertrains. An original library that the present authors and co-workers have built up in recent years for the ‘real-time’ simulation of diesel engines is described, and several applications are reported. The presented models were validated and used to simulate the transient behaviour of typical automotive diesel engines.

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